Adventures in the 13th Age

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Four figures kneel before the smoldering remains a small fire, chanting rhythmically. The camera spins around them, and we see their cloaked heads silhouetted against the large blue windows that, due to smoke and the night outside, lend little light into this tall chamber. But the light and the smoke shift, mingle, and suddenly another silhouette forms in the smoke. A terrible roar echoes through the chamber, and then the leftmost figure rises into the air, screams, and suddenly stops as we see his face drain of life, crack, and wither away.
The husk of skin left contorts into a wicked smile as the other three figures stand and the camera sees that each is a lifeless mask on old bones. A voice creeks out of one. “Our number is complete. The time has come to crack the barrier and let loose the Obsidian Hound.”
“I’ve got a better idea,” comes a voice, as the camera pulls back and we see the rear of a boot as it steps forward. We pedestal up and see the silhouette of Grimnir standing defiantly, axe in hand. “Let’s not.”
The rest of you are waiting in the shadows, and none of you trust this crazy dwarf, who screams and races forward. What do you do?

But Nameless wanders toward the fire, and out of the smoke and shadow comes the Obsidian Hound, still half-formed and drifting over the battle. It howls and Nameless feels her soul sucked from her body and toward the beast, but barely hangs on. She staggers away, lets loose her power in an arc of lightning that fells two of the spawn, and then huddles behind Vessel.

Flashback: a lecture hall. A priest is showing Eyon a huge grandfather clock, but Eyon is frowning. “We can make that smaller.”

Eyon pulls out a pocket watch and hypnotizes a vampire spawn, which turns on the one next to it.

free to move now, Grimnir runs at the Hound. “This is more like it!” He says, but his blows pass through the air without catching.

Malena sings a song, stabs an arrow into the energy, and then shoots the arrow at Nameless to heal her.

Eyon pulls out aerosol cans to Color Spray. He eyes the fire, still smoldering, and sees a shiny bauble among the items gathered around it. We flash to The Prince of Shadows smiling, and Eyon nodding.

The Obsidian Hound turns its attention to Grimnir, and once again we see a soul pulled free, only to slither back into a body.

A shield flies out and strikes the Hound, letting Eyon get in another attack. He pulls out the aerosol cans and sprays color onto the beast, attempting to confuse it.

The shield is followed by Purge, the armored commander that went missing in the cathedral and who they were meant to find. He strikes the Hound with his sword, tearing a gash in the shadow.

Nameless lashes out with all her breath: poison and acid fly, and soon the smoke and shadows are burning and sizzling as the Hound roars.

But the Hound strikes Grimnir again, and the barbarian falla dead at its phantasmal feet. A moment later he arises skeletal claws extending from his fingers.

Purge attacks Grimnir as the Hound outflanks the commander and advances again on Nameless. Its attacks are weakening as the forgotten ritual expires and its form fades from this world, but it still brings Nameless close again to death, before disappearing itself.

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Int, Smoke-Filled Room

Vessel looks back and forth between Purge and Eyon, then decides to accost Eyon first. “What are you doing here?!”

Eyon is somewhere between unforthcoming and unaware: “I was told by… certain parties that there might be a… meeting in these parts.”

Vessel is unimpressed. “In the secret Dark Gods Wing of the Cathedral?”

Nameless is still recovering from nearly losing her soul twice. Purge Helps her up, and when their eyes meet we

Flashback: Nameless is fighting again next to Ser Lorwick, against the hellbugs. She is surrounded, but just before the attack the demon is run through, and as it falls we see Purge, with less armor and fewer scars. Extreme close up of Nameless’s eyes, which fade to the same eyes in the present.

We hear her voice echoing thorough the chamber but do not see her. “… the race-traitor Eyon." The camera comes to rest on a kneeled figure, who lifts her head. It is Malena. “I know the man, yes.” “You are never to see him again.” Malena does not look happy. “You are my Queen and my sister, and I must submit to your wishes, but I ask that you allow me to follow him for a time and see for myself.”